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Celebrating Everyday Spirituality

Sunflower Seeds

Celebrating Everyday Spirituality

Asking for What We Need



Here’s a quote I’ve been carrying around with me for almost 27 years. It’s from the book How to Argue and Win Every Time (1995) by Gerry Spence. He writes:


Wisdom does not usually fall from high places. The mighty and splendid have taught me little in life. I have learned more from my dog than from all the great books I’ve read. The wisdom of my dog is the product of his inability to conceal his wants. When he yearns to be loved, there is no pouting in the corner. There are no games entitled “Guess what is the matter with me.” He puts his head on my lap and looks up at me with kind eyes, waiting to be petted. No professor or sage ever told me I might live a more successful life if I simply asked for love when I needed it.





These words made me ask: why is it sometimes so hard for us humans to express our needs to others? I came up with several reasons. First, we may lack the humility to admit that we even have needs! Our current culture stresses independence and self-reliance so much, we may be embarrassed by our simple needs for attention, tenderness, and companionship. Or maybe we assume (incorrectly) that our loved ones should already know our needs. And if we have to tell them what we need, they somehow don’t love us very much.


But perhaps there’s a third reason we don’t express our needs to others: We don’t even know what our needs are! How important it is, then, to live a reflective life, that is, a life when we regularly pause and ask ourselves questions like these: “How am I doing?… How am I feeling?… How are things going in my life right now?” Many well-adjusted and essentially happy people reflect on such questions during their prayer time, that is, during their regular communion with God.



Jesus encouraged his followers to know and to express their needs. In fact, if we look at the prayer he taught his disciples, the Our Father, we see it is a prayer composed of seven petitions addressed to God. In Matthew’s version of the prayer, the first three petitions are “thy” askings: Hallowed be thy name… Thy kingdom come… Thy will be done.


The remaining four are “us” petitions: Give us today our daily bread… Forgive us our trespasses… Lead us not into temptation… but deliver us from evil. By giving us this prayer, Jesus is underscoring the importance of petitionary prayer. Such prayer presupposes not only that we are in touch with our deepest needs, it demonstrates that we trust enough to express these needs even to God!





The Christian life means more than simply identifying and expressing our needs, of course. The mandate of love permeates Jesus’ message. This means we must also be attentive to the needs of others—those close to us and those living in the wider world. But the two movements are closely connected. Jesus was amazingly attentive to those around him precisely because he was in touch with his own needs. And he wasn’t afraid to reach out to his friends and disciples when he needed rest, companionship, a good home-cooked meal, feedback about his ministry, and time alone to pray.



So, let us learn a valuable lesson from our dog or other pets. Let us admit our needs to ourselves and share them with our family, close friends, and most of all with our Beloved God. Amen!


For reflection:

1) Is it easy for you to express your needs to others? Why or why not?

2) Do you regularly express your needs to God in prayer?


3) What helps you to be attentive to the needs of others?


4) Has your dog (or cat or other pet or animal) ever taught you an importance lesson about life? If so, what and how?



Here is a fun video about dogs, cats, and other pets. It’s called “Don’t Leave without Me,” and is a parody of Adele’s song “Easy on Me.” Perhaps your pets sing this song to you whenever you leave the house without them…





I welcome your comments below! I’m always eager to read what you have to share with us!




6 Responses

  1. I loved this piece. So many of us, including me, are so afraid to tell people what our needs are.
    We do things on our own. Perhaps it is a sig of weakness to ask for help or to express our feelings. Thank you Sister for your words of wisdom.

    Once again, I had to go to Sunflower Seeds for your post. I am still not getting your emails. Tried to sign up again but a message came up hat I am already on the list.

    Blessings for a beautiful week. God Bless.

    Susan Bachner

  2. Always important thoughts, thank you! Verbalizing needs is sometimes a problem, probably I feel like I shouldn’t have to if someone loves me. So much for expectations.
    Still have to go on Google to get each weeks bulletin but worth it.
    Loved the video.,

  3. Good morning Sister Melannie, this was a very special blog! Thanks for sharing. I just wish I would start receiving your blog every week. Have a wonderful weekend and and blessed upcoming week.

  4. Sister, this was so funny! I love your sense of humor! Keep working on getting that blog to us by email, I know it must be frustrating to you and your IT team. I’m going to add it to my prayer list!

    Blessings always….

  5. Melannie — I’m a little late in reading this. What a beautiful reflection and one that I am in need of reading for sure. The video I absolutely love, The little bischon looks just like our two.

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Hi and welcome to my blog! I’m Sister Melannie, a Sister of Notre Dame residing in Chardon, Ohio, USA. I’ve been very lucky! I was raised in a loving family on a small farm in northeast Ohio. I also entered the SNDs right after high school. Over the years, my ministries have included high school and college teaching, novice director, congregational leadership, spiritual direction, retreat facilitating, and writing. I hope you enjoy “Sunflower Seeds” and will consider subscribing below. I’d love to have you in our “sunflower community.” Thank you!

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